Summer Fun!

Summer's almost over, at least schedule-wise. Public school has begun and we're busy planning fall, winter and yes - even spring 2008 events. I do take some comfort in knowing the warm Florida sun will stay shining for months to come before the holiday season begins.

I will be going to Jacksonville this weekend (August 24-26) with Diane Smith, our Treasurer, to attend the AdFed 4th District Summer Conference. That will be a lot of fun on the beach, as well as a lot of workshops and meetings. I'll give the highlights when we get back.

We bashed our brains last Wednesday, well... we brainstormed and mingled at the 2nd Annual Brain Bash at the Martini Bar. It was a lot of fun! Keep your eyes out for pictures that might show up in the papers, as we had press there too. The raffle was a hit, a dozen or so prizes were given out - t-shirts, monkeys (production monkeys?) and design books. Thank you to everyone who filled out a survey, it really helps to know what everyone is thinking when we're making our plans.

We also said goodbye to Fred Mullen, our founding member, at the Brain Bash. Fred started the Greater Ocala AdFed some 23 years ago. He is now moving away to beautiful Tennessee with family. The good news is that he'll stay in touch and will continue to visit. Thanks for everything, Fred!

Following are some snaps of the evening.

Onwards and forwards, September's program will be on Multicultural Marketing, look for details and emails... hope to see you there!

GOoooooo-AdFed!
Jessi

Fred Mullen, we'll miss you, stay in touch!

Sharon Mei, past Treasurer

Sharon and Andy Stracuzzi, looking over raffle prize

Fred Mullen and Toni James

Rose Blaine and Holly Clark

Rapt attention as Jessi speaks

Lots of photography being taken by Dorothy Johnson of the Ocala Star Banner



Diane Smith and Brent Haeseker, checking for winners

Oh Yeah! I won!!! ... Andy Stracuzzi, Peter Mei, Kip Williams

A new year begins

Hello members and members-to-be,

Bright, shiny and a little green, I have begun the 2007-2008 AdFed year as President. This July I have put more hours into AdFed than any month yet, and as I write this it is still not over. We had our first board meeting with the new and returning directors, I went to Cocoa Beach for a 3-day 4th District President/Leadership Retreat, returned and worked hours on an agenda for our own retreat, which we held last week to map out our year. Website and budgeting meetings are scheduled for next week, so by month's end a lot of plans will be getting underway. It's been a busy month – rest-assured, work is going on behind the scenes!

I'm looking forward to seeing changes through and to learning more about the traditions. The American Advertising Federation is rich in history and tradition. Since 1904 clubs have been forming and merging to eventually become what we now know of as AdFed (or AAF), which is 50,000 members strong. Ocala is no exception, there is a history of AdFed and advertising here that we will strive to celebrate... while breathing some new life and progress into our advertising community.

One change you might have noticed already is in our name. Instead of "GOAF" we have changed the emphasis. The Greater Ocala Advertising Federation is now GO-AdFed. Our new logo, designed by Andy Stracuzzi our Branding Manager, reflects the identity and bears the national AAF colors. Everything you'll see from now on will showcase our new, professional and fun look.

In fact, you'll be seeing and hearing more from us in general – communication is a priority. I hope that you'll contact me or one of our board members with any interest or curiosity whatsoever. I also really hope that you'll become involved more actively. We have so many fun projects percolating and the more help we have, the better and bigger everything will be. This club belongs to the members and takes on their personalities, so dive in and put a little bit of YOU into it!

I will keep you all updated via this blog... keep your eye on it for photos and stories, news that relates to our industry, peeks at what lies ahead, behind-the-scenes goings-on and general communication. Post comments, send me emails, I want to hear from all of you. I want to know what's working and what you'd like to see happen.

GOoooooo-AdFed!
Jessi


PS- Here's a photo taken at the 4th District Retreat with some of the other bright and shiny club-leaders: